Polls Open Tuesday In Cameron Sales Tax Election

Cameron town officials hope the third time will be the charm in a special election for a requested 2 percent sales tax on Tuesday.

Cameron town officials hope the third time will be the charm in a special election for a requested 2 percent sales tax on Tuesday.

Early in-person voting winds up today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the LeFlore County Election Board Office, 103 N. Church St., Poteau.

One polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Election Board staff. Cameron voters who prefer casting ballots in the traditional way may do so at Precinct 109, Cameron Public School.

The election marks the third time in 14 months that Cameron officials asked town voters to pass a sales tax to generate revenue to help support town services.

Councilwoman Marilyn Jiles said a misunderstanding about the tax may have been the reason voters declined it previously. The 2 percent tax — 2 cents on the dollar, she stressed, would apply only to purchases made at businesses inside Cameron.

Treasurer Randy Shiflett said the town’s income in the just-passed fiscal year was just over $17,000, more than half of it derived from franchise fees from the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Utility company. Other town revenue sources are Oklahoma’s motor vehicle, fuel and alcoholic beverage taxes. Shiflett said it is difficult to provide needed services in a town that has less annual revenue than it takes to run a household.

Voters declined the requested sales tax in June 2012 in a 31-23 vote. They said no again in November 2012 but by just two votes — 39-37.